DENVER: GUARDS: TY LAWSON has emerged as the closest thing to a No. 1 option on this team, and despite his size, he's proven capable of playing full-time minutes. He'll continue to post big numbers in an up-tempo system that suits him perfectly . . . ANDRE MILLER will both back up Lawson and share the court with him at times (though Andre Iguodala figures to play a lot of two this season). The steady veteran is one of the league's most underrated sixth men . . . It's a bit surprising that EVAN FOURNIER is making the jump to the NBA this year. His size and skill combo will be nice on the wing one day, but he's unlikely to contribute this year . . . JULYAN STONE will be out until January after offseason hip surgery, but he should be Lawson's main backup upon his return. FORWARDS: DANILO GALLINARI is their most complete offensive player. If healthy, he's capable of being a 20-PPG scorer . . . ANDRE IGUODALA should enjoy the much faster pace Denver plays at. He'll see full-time minutes between both wing spots . . . KENNETH FARIED isn't a skilled big, but he's a high-energy guy who can get his own points off offensive rebounds . . . WILSON CHANDLER could end up leading their second unit in minutes and points . . . COREY BREWER is a front office favorite. He'll stay in the rotation as a defensive presence/glue guy . . . JORDAN HAMILTON could break into the rotation. He's one-dimensional, but has the offensive skills . . . Denver will try to solve the ANTHONY RANDOLPH riddle. Don't expect it to happen this year. CENTERS: Denver is all-in on internet punchline JaVALE McGEE. They'll give the athletic 7-footer every chance to become the star they think he can be. Whether the flaky McGee can capitalize is questionable . . . TIMOFEY MOZGOV is one of the NBA's best screeners, but his touches will be limited . . . KOSTA KOUFOS has quietly developed into a usable rotation player, but he might be squeezed out of minutes.

MINNESOTA: GUARDS: RICKY RUBIO could be back by late December, but even he's not confident his knee will be 100 percent. His minutes might have to be scaled back . . . LUKE RIDNOUR will handle the offense with Rubio hampered. The vet is a steady hand in coach Rick Adelman's Euro-style offense . . . They're counting on BRANDON ROY to reclaim his old form after a radical knee procedure. He may never be 100 percent, but he should at least give them sixth-man minutes . . . CHASE BUDINGER is a three-point marksman who moves well off the ball, a perfect fit in Adelman's system . . . J.J. BAREA will take some of the point guard burden as well. He's a top sixth man . . . ALEXEY SHVED can help as a combo guard, though he might have trouble breaking into this rotation . . . MALCOLM LEE is a defensive stopper who won't be asked to shoot very often. FORWARDS: Despite being limited athletically, KEVIN LOVE is an elite rebounder and shooter for a big. He'll continue to be the focal point of this offense once he returns from a broken hand in early December . . . ANDREI KIRILENKO returns to the States after a dominating Euroleague stint. He's a big upgrade at the three and should be comfortable in Adelman's system . . . DERRICK WILLIAMS will continue his attempted transition to the three. As last year proved, he's a long, long ways away. He might have to play himself into a rotation spot . . . DANTE CUNNINGHAM is a nice, efficient big to bring off the bench . . . Since they need shooting on the wings, rookie ROBBIE HUMMEL has a chance to crack the rotation. CENTERS: NIKOLA PEKOVIC is a beast, the best offensive rebounder in the NBA. His total rebounding numbers get hurt playing alongside Kevin Love, but Pekovic will continue to bully his way to put-backs . . . GREG STIEMSMA is going to come in and do some pushing and shoving (and occasional shot-blocking) for 12-to-15 MPG.

Kevin Love returned the last time the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Denver Nuggets.

The Timberwolves have not officially ruled out Ricky Rubio for the second meeting of the season between these teams Wednesday night at the Target Center.

Denver (11-11) spoiled Love's surprise return for Minnesota (9-9) with a 101-94 road win Nov. 21. Love came back with 34 points and 14 boards after missing the first nine games, though he wasn't expected to be back that soon after breaking his hand in mid-October.

Rubio has been practicing for the Timberwolves, who have not played since Friday's 91-73 home victory over Cleveland. He's said he will play when his knee feels better, and coach Rick Adelman is not sure what his point guard rotation will look like with Minnesota beginning a stretch of six games in nine days.

"I don't really have an answer until I find out what Ricky's status is," Adelman said.

Forward Andrei Kirilenko said that Rubio has "looked great" in practice, although he wouldn't venture a guess as to when Rubio will make his season debut.

"He's (one of) those kind of guys that can make a difference in the game," Kirilenko said. "And playing games in practice, you see that."

The Nuggets were able to withstand the return of Love for their 20th victory in the last 22 games of this series between Northwest Division rivals thanks to a balanced attack. Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points, Ty Lawson and Andre Iguodala each added 18 while Kenneth Faried battled Love inside and came away with 14 boards.

That defeat was part of a season-high five-game skid for Minnesota, which has gone 4-2 since that slide.

"It was part of that stretch, we got great (starts) and couldn't finish five games in a row," Kirilenko said. "I think lately we've been playing a little bit differently, we've kind of concentrated at the end and I hope we're going to be able to do (it) tomorrow."

Love has posted double-doubles in eight of nine games since coming back. He had a season-high 36 points and 13 boards against the Cavaliers.

The Nuggets are trying to finish their five-game trip with a winning record after battling back from an early 17-point deficit for Tuesday's 101-94 victory at Detroit.

Lawson had 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds, but the key was a big effort by the Denver bench. Reserve Corey Brewer scored 15 points, JaVale McGee had 12 and Andre Miller added 11 and seven assists.

"The bench came in and gave us a big lift," said Lawson, averaging 20.8 points on the trip. "JaVale was dunking, Corey was stealing the ball and getting easy layups and Andre was running the show."

Denver has led in the fourth quarter of every game on this trip.

"It has kind of been like that all season, but it is a tough road swing and we needed this win to go into Minnesota and try to get that one tomorrow," Miller said.